Arizona Mobile Radar Vans

They go where the speeders are, plain and simple. The unmarked vans are probably run by contractors.

Personally, I don't think they should be required to deploy those signs that warn drivers that there's a photo-radar camera ahead. If you speed and get caught...live with it! You don't see security patrols warning would-be bad guys that "they're about to check the office...so you'd better hide".

I have to say my 2 cents. Those of you that think that it's ok to let government go down the slippery slope hiding behind the wall of it's better for society deserve what you get.

No offence. But speed camera vans should display the signs, better yet, they should be replaced by real officers and not be out there at all.

Next thing we are going to get cameras on every street corner for safety. Butter, that's a fat, maybe we should tax that.

I am not prepared to have all my freedoms and privacy taken away by do-gooders that think this ok for government to start going down that road. Please think long and hard about letting go of your privacy in the name of doing good for society.

In Illinois you see a lot of photo radar signs in construction zones on the expressway. Those speeding tickets are extremely high.

tghowe
The difference is:
A office is private property,and roads are public property. Not only should there be signs, but the vans should also have to be plainly marked as well.

In Ohio all radar and Photo Enforcement cars have to be marked and can not be plain, to do the deed.

And I couldn't agree more!

What ever happened to our constitutional right as expressed in the VI amendment, to be confronted with the witnesses against us?

Try cross examining a traffic camera.

I was under the impression you can cross examine the officer who issues the ticket in court.

Does an officers name not show up on the ticket?

Although much of this isn't expressly for tickets issued by camera surveillance, there is some good advice here:

http://www.wikihow.com/Fight-a-Traffic-Ticket

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar...

I am for stopping the countless people who speed way over the speed limit. However, in Arizona, where I live, they have put these mobile vans and speed cameras up to get revenue for the state, not to stop speeders. I have seen it on the freeways where everyone slams on their brakes and almost causes more accidents due to the cameras. This is a bad idea. If you get one of these tickets and pay it, it doesn't go on your record at all. This is totally to make money for the state of Arizona.

Your cause and effect seems to be a bit off.

If everyone did not drive faster than the posted speed limit none of them would slam on their brakes and they would not almost cause accidents due to their breaking the law.

Last night on the I10, I suddenly get a "Traffic alert, slow traffic in 3 miles." Well, I figured out at at 11:00 pm what can be so slow and ignored it.

Three miles later, no sign of slow down BUT a mobile radar van on the side.

My dream and suggestion: Instead of these often erroneous (therefore useless) alerts TMC is broadcasting around here, how about broadcasting the location of the speed vans as alerts? Mmmmmh?

I think that the signs should defiantly be posted, after all they also help people slow down and pay attention.

One might expect that to be the case, but based on my observations (~65 miles per day on Phoenix-area freeways) I would have to disagree. I've seen cars obviously being driven below the speed limit hit the brakes when they see the camera vans. It's likely reflexive, but it's prevalent all the same. And it only takes one vehicle's brake lights to initiate the reflexive braking reaction in essentially all of the vehicles following it.

I was driving back from Lake Las Vegas Saturday and saw the two vans near Wikieup and Wickenburg. The one was just being setup as I went by. I guess they were just looking for the speeders on there way to Vegas.

You're correct. Most of the time in AZ, they slow down and put on the breaks even when they are doing the speed limit. There was one lady that slammed on her breaks doing 55mph in a 75mph speed zone. Five cars slammed into each other. I do not like people who speed, but the camera's do cause problems. There needs to be more cops with radar on the road and big fines given out for speeding that goes on your record. Today, these tickets don't go on your record. It is all about collecting money for revenue instead of addressing the real problem.

My wife just got a speeding ticket from a stationary van here in AZ - the car is registered in my name and I got the ticket. I just sent in the declaration that I was not the driver and we'll see where we go from there!

Do the right thing, Give her up!

Dunno if it's where I'm driving, but I've not seen many of the vans lately.

I am a former Phoenix area resident, now a SnowBird. ahsumtoy is correct. Regardless of the speed people are going (the speed limit is 65 in many areas of metro Phoenix), when people see the signs they slam on their brakes and slow to 50. Then when they pass the camera, it's back to whatever they were going.

There will be a terrible multi-car pile-up one day (especially during the monsoon season, when visibility can be poor) and I'll bet it is because of this brake-slamming behavior.

It has become very difficult to drive in the Phoenix area, since these cameras and mobile vans have, in many places, effectively reduced the speed to 50 in a 65 zone.

And as ahsumtoy said, this is not for safety, it is to help balance the budget. No points. And the ticket prices are in the hundreds of dollars.

Just my 2 cents worth!
-Herschel

Are you crazy? Are you married? Do you value giving money to the state over the relationship with your spouse?

It's not the wife's fault that the state was too lazy to hire actual police officers to pull the driver over the spot to issue a citation. Why reward laziness?

Yea hang on a second while I rat out my wife... LOL

Thanks for the heads up. I'm going in September so I'll be sure to keep my eyes peeled.

Duh, Lighten up Dude, You actually think I was serious? You see it don't matter Bud, your gonna pay anyway!

It cracks me up how some folks blame accidents on these camera vans. Last time I read the drivers manual you're supposed to keep a safe distance between your car and the car in front of you.

But I guess its easier to blame someone else instead of accepting responsibility for your actions.

I'm with you, but whether the fault is a stupid driver or the enforcement camera, it wouldn't have happened if the governing body used a different method to collect $$$.

They allow 10 over on the cameras... but when someone is going 70-75 and slams on their brakes and slows to 50 or less, it's tough not to get rear-ended even if you are keeping a reasonable distance. The cameras are going to cause major accidents. I know it's not the cameras, but the drivers react to them differently than when your radar detector goes off for a live officer.

Sudden changes in speed are very dangerous. And these money collection machines are causing dangerous conditions... all for the money.

-Herschel

LOL glad you clarified it. True about paying either way.

You need to start a petition and get all of your Arizona compatriots to sign on and tell those stinkin' politicos that you demand that they get rid of the camera vans and just raise your income, property and sales taxes to cover any shortfalls!

That'll show'em!

Go ahead and leave a "safe distance" between you and the car ahead and see how many people cut in front of you.

So true! If I leave more than a car length, someone is cutting in. Then they slam on the brakes!

This thread seems to have died or at least slowed down...can't let that happen as I ..."get my kicks...." Oops, pardon me...enjoy reading other's hot button reactions.

Recently returned from a week in Arizona. On I-40 westbound I saw a white van on the side of the highway with no milling people or obvious signs of trouble. But this van had a 5-6 foot pole mounted on top of it and official looking blue markings on the side. The wife said "traffic enforcement" or something similar. I guess I'll find out over the course of the coming year...backlogs and all.

I didn't see any signage announcing its presence, but then again I was in the fast lane passing a semi. I didn't see any flash in my rear view...but it was around noon. I checked my speed. Oh! Oh! I was three to five miles over. Like I said, I'll find out...

That was approaching Winslow. And it was a bit unnerving. I did slow down without using brakes. On the other side of Winslow was another similar van. And there was a sign announcing its presence. I was doing the speed limit.

I wasn't happy. Those money grabbing thieves were out to get me. They seemed everywhere I went. Funny thing though: when I left Arizona I had a different view. Traffic seemed to flow nicely--even in Phoenix during rush hour. Safe distances were maintained and I don't recall any instances of people cutting in and out trying to save a precious second or two at someone else's expense.

That is until I was leaving Arizona and exiting construction zones. Then it seems cars with California plates, mostly, had to "punch it" and get to the finish line...wherever that might be. (I suspect hours of driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic, 24/7, under the speed limit does strange things to people.)

If you were only 3-5 miles over, you won't be getting any unwanted Arizona souvenirs. They're set to snap you only if you're at least ten mph over the limit.

Thanks for visiting Arizona and helping to support our slumping tourism industry.